MAVS NEWS:

[KillerLeft]

Okay. It’s settled. Barring injury, Flagg will almost certainly develop into an elite two way #1 option. I wasn’t sure at first if he’d be a 1 or a 2, but he’s a 1. Next question:  what’s the ideal archetype Robin to pair with him?  AD and Flagg work well but are not on the same timeline, and AD’s contract extension demands will force him out of Dallas sooner rather than later.  So, who’s the 2?  Not who exactly, but what type of player?  To be realistic, I’m not talking about pairing him with a generational superstar, just a mere all star.  I’d favor someone like a Ja(y)len — a high intensity, physical small forward/guard who plays great defense and can carry a significant scoring load.

That type (athletic 3/2 type) would work well. They need to be able to shoot REALLY well, and you probably need two of them. 

A defensive center who can move his feet, like AD, only younger, would be good, too. Hopefully, this can be Lively, but I guess we don't know yet. I don't necessarily think this guy has to have 3pt range, but they need to have a way to function offensively away from the basket in the right situations, so that the paint is open for Flagg's lethal drive. The DHO perimeter off ball screening actions work pretty well when Davis, or Lively are out there. Even Powell, tbh.

I think those types of players are needed regardless of who the team's 2nd best player is. My opinion is still that the 2nd best player should be a ball-handler, and probably an actual PG. Younger than Kyrie, obviously. I think you can still go "point Flagg" when the situation or matchup lends itself, but you need other options to set up offense, as last night's fourth quarter showed us. The Mavs were outscored 31-19 in the fourth, basically because they had no way to create offense when Detroit tightened the screws.